Hmm ... first person or third? Let's go with ... me. I'm co-founder and CEO of iFOCOS, a community of innovators in media and communications (www.ifocos.org). I'm thought of by some as an expert on communications, technology and cultural trends, and whether I am or not I'm an advocate for applying media tools and techniques to make the world a better place for everyone. I'm a writer and online publishing veteran who learned from remarkable teachers: the art of fiction from novelist Frank McCourt, computer programming from BASIC creator John Kemeney, and social activism from Pacific island nuclear testing witness and author David Bradley. I've reported and edited for The Associated Press; written for The New York Times, Infoworld, Audubon and other magazines; managed one of the world’s most ambitious small-market newspaper Web sites, lawrence.com; played clarinet at Tanglewood and Carnegie Hall; studied wildlife, development and environmental policy in Kenya; spoken on media convergence and business strategies in Asia, Europe and Australia; and I'm on the advisory boards of the World Editors’ Forum, The Enthusiasts Group LLC, and NewsTrust. I've published one piece of short fiction, written many others (at nach.com) and yes, there’s more to come. I earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Dartmouth College and live with my wife and two sons in Reston, Virginia.

- Slow it down. Technology is empowering and connecting us, but also overwhelming us. Or maybe it's just me. I'd like to change the world so that it's both practical to use the explosion of communications tools and services now available to people globally - and yet have more time that's offline, analog, personal and slower.

- Make it smarter: Figure out how we can make better use of information - not only expand access, but expand applications of information so individuals, communities and society as a whole is better-informed and more capable of applying information to improve people's lives everywhere.

- Make it more beautiful: I'd like to rekindle my passions for the environment - for the magic of the earth's wild places, and the challenges of its inhabited places - and for music and art.

media, technology, art, environment